To get more variety between shots, I zoomed and moved the camera to the right as well as changed the height and angle of my tripod.

Not only do you need to pay attention to your composition when framing shots, but also the angle and height of the camera. By adjusting where the camera is positioned in relation to the subject, you can impact the viewer’s perception of the subject.

My subject is lower than my eye level, so I adjusted the height of the camera to place the viewer at the same height as a child.

Eye Level

For most documentary, news, or other “factual” coverage, eye-level recording is standard. Because this is how most people see the world, it is the most comfortable angle for viewers to watch from.

Looking down on the golf club, ball, and hole felt natural because it matches the memory and experience of the viewer.

High Angle or Overhead

If you place the camera above the subject, it looks down on the action. This often creates a sense that the audience is more powerful than the subject and can lead to a sense of detachment. However, it can be used effectively when creating point-of-view shots.

Placing the camera on the ground to get this shot added visual interest to the scene.

Low Angle

A low angle shot places the camera below the subject, which can make the subject look more important or add drama to a scene.

Canting the camera at a slight angle, I was able to better frame the subject who was deeply focused (and bent over) a golf ball.

Dutch Angle

Sometimes the camera is canted at an angle, which is called a Dutch angle . Typically, the angle is between 25 and 45 degrees (enough that it seems intentional, but not so much that it’s dizzying). This effect causes horizontal lines to appear at an angle. Dutch angles are meant to convey tension or psychological uneasiness. Some styles of production, like music videos, use them often, whereas documentary and instructional videos use them less frequently.

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